RESUMO
Lateral epicondlitis [LE] is a chronic condition that has proven to be challenging to treat. To date, systematic reviews looking at a range of outcome measures on treatments for LE have failed to draw any firm conclusions as to what treatment is most effective in managing this condition. To evaluate the effects of Low-level Laser therapy [LLLT] and to compare these with the effects of US treatment in the management of tennis elbow. Sixty patients with LE were enrolled in this study and randomized into three groups: group A treated with US plus brace, group B treated with laser plus brace and group C [control group] used brace only. Pain, grade of tenderness, range of wrist motion and both maximal and pain-free grip strength were assessed at baseline. Patient's perception of benefit through a global improvement, and all other outcome measures were assessed at four, eight weeks of treatment and four weeks after the end of treatment. Significant reduction in pain from baseline in all studied groups with significant difference between mean VAS of pain of patients treated with either US or laser and that of patients in control group were detected in all stages of the study. Furthermore, significant difference in pain reduction between US treated group and laser treated group. Also significant improvements in all other outcome measures were detected. The current clinical study provides further evidence of the efficacy of LLLT and pulsed low US in the management of LE with better results obtained using US